Starting Up The Steps.....

Now, about the steps....The porch was missing the front steps, if it ever had any. I don't know if that kit came with them. I decided to take the easy way out. I have been wanting to experiment with this method for a while now.

I noticed that 3/4" cove molding in real life is about the same size as a stair step in miniature. If there is a shortcut, I will take it as long as it looks good.

I cut three strips of cove the width of the opening in the porch rail. I dry fitted them in place and they were meant for this particular application. With Tessie's approval, I carried on.

Next I took the bottom two and ran glue along one of the narrow edges of one of the pieces of cove. I butted that against the second one and put them in the gluing jig.


I let them dry...That's the hardest part. Waiting for the glue to dry.

Then I flipped them over and glued the third one to the first one, forming the two steps. Again, the jig. Again, I let it dry. Almost instant front porch steps, but I wasn't finished.

Next I cut two pieces to simulate the treads. I cut them about an eighth of an inch larger on the front and sides.

Here you can see the unfinished steps. The treads haven't been glued in place yet. They still need a bull nose edge on three sides and I will paint them before putting them on.

I also still have to cut a piece to cover either end of the cove so that they will look solid.

I think that this same method would work for interior stairs if the cove was glued to a base, corner edge to corner edge. That's an experiment for another day.

Tessie is quite pleased. She has been running up and down, as has Spike. I am not sure why they both get so excited about stairs. Maybe it's because she doesn't have any in her house and she has to spell herself from first to second floor and back. I would think that it would be easier that way....She says it takes lots of extra energy to do it. And "In Spiderwort Manor, there will be stairs connecting alllll of the floors!"

I am not so sure that I like that long drawn out all. It sounds to much like the house is getting taller and taller as she plans.

I am going now and finish the real world chicken veggie soup and biscuits that I am making for dinner. Tomorrow I will have the finished steps for you.

See you then.